Actor Bill Nighy has secured the title of best host at the 10th annual British Podcast Awards, surpassing industry peers such as Louis Theroux, Katherine Ryan, and Lily Allen. Now 76, the star known for his work in the Underworld franchise, Living, and Love Actually, has found success in his latest venture, Ill-Advised, which organizers described as an irresistibly endearing series.
Marketed as a podcast for those who do not get out much and struggle when they do, the program features Nighy offering his unique, wry advice to listeners while reflecting on music, literature, and life. This win follows his previous success earlier in March, when he earned the podcast of the year accolade at the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards.
Several other notable figures and productions were recognized during the ceremony held on Thursday. Pete Wicks earned two awards for his project Man Made, which aims to unpack modern masculinity, securing wins in both the best interview podcast and best health and wellbeing podcast categories. Additionally, actor Sean Bean’s birdwatching series, Get Birding, claimed victory for best lifestyle podcast and best video innovation.
The overall top prize, along with the award for best factual podcast, went to the Prison Radio Association for its series Hold or Fold, which explores the issue of problem gambling. Meanwhile, the audience-voted Listeners’ Choice award was presented to the YouTube veterans Dan and Phil for their series, Hard Launch.
Full List of Gold Winners
- Best host: Bill Nighy, Eyepod Studios
- Podcast of the year: Hold or Fold, Prison Radio Association
- Listeners’ choice: Hard Launch with Dan & Phil, Studio 71
- Best arts & culture podcast: Legend: The Bruce Springsteen Story, Audio Wales and West of England
- Best business podcast: The Factory Next Door, The Factory Next Door
- Best comedy podcast: When The Cops Say No, We Say Yes, A Step Too Far Productions
- Best daily podcast: The Intelligence, The Economist
- Best documentary podcast: The Birth Keepers, The Guardian
- Best education podcast: Talking Rubbish, The Rubbish Collective
- Best entertainment podcast: NewlyParents, JamPot Productions
- Best factual podcast: Hold or Fold, Prison Radio Association
- Best fiction podcast: Project Bläckfisk, Cipher Atlas Productions
- Best food & drink podcast: Bottoms Up! With Alan Carr & Lee Peart, Platform Media
- Best health & wellbeing podcast: Pete Wicks’ Man Made, Bauer Media
- Best history podcast: The House at Number 48, Long Form Audio
- Best impact podcast: SEND in the Spotlight, Audio
- Best interview podcast: Pete Wicks’ Man Made, Bauer Media
- Best kids podcast: Audiomoves in Space, Peut-Être Theatre
- Best lifestyle podcast: Get Birding, Peanut & Crumb
- Best new podcast: Do I Detect A Problem?, Sync Clap Limited
- Best news, politics & current affairs podcast: The Wargame, Sky News and Tortoise
- Best parenting podcast: ADHD Women’s Wellbeing Podcast, ADHD Women’s Wellbeing
- Rising star award: Georgie Styles
- Best sex & relationships podcast: Atonement: The John Paulk Story, Goldhawk and Platform Media
- Specialist award: The Dementia Perspective, OG Podcasts
- Best sport podcast: That Peter Crouch Podcast, Marvellous
- Spotlight award: Dish from Waitrose with Nick Grimshaw & Angela Hartnett, Cold Glass Productions
- Best true crime podcast: Coining It, Free Turn
- Best video innovation: Get Birding, Peanut & Crumb
- Best Welsh language podcast: Hanes Mawr Cymru, Terrier Productions
Important Details
- Best network/publisher – World Service.
